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New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator

Annual Report

2015

“I will bear in mind always that I am a truth seeker, not a case maker: that it is more important to protect the innocent than to convict the guilty.” –Anonymous

Office of the Medical Investigator

Annual Report 2015

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2015 Annual Report


State of New Mexico

Medical Investigators

Kurt Nolte, MD

Chief Medical Investigator

Director of the Center for Forensic Imaging

Karen Cline-Parhamovich, DO

Assistant Chief Medical Investigator

Sam Andrews, MD

Michelle Aurelius, MD

Heather Jarrell, MD

Hannah Kastenbaum, MD

Ian Paul, MD

J. Keith Pinckard, MD, PhD

Lori Proe, DO

Sophia Rodriguez, MD

Veena Singh, MD

Ross Zumwalt, MD

Medical Investigators

Board of Medical Investigations

Paul B. Roth, MD, Dean

University of New Mexico School of Medicine

Chancellor: Health Sciences Center

Professor: Emergency Medicine Department

Retta Ward, MPH, Secretary

New Mexico Department of Health

Pete Kassetas, Chief

New Mexico State Police

Brad Brane, Chairman

State of New Mexico, Board of Thanatopractice

Kelly Zunie

New Mexico Department of Indian Affairs


MSC07 4040

1 University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-0001

Telephone: (505)272-3053

Fax: (505)925-0546

Website: http://omi.unm.edu

http://omi.unm.edu/


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The 2015 OMI Annual Report is dedicated to New Mexico Secretary of Health,

Retta Ward.

OMI‟s 2015 Annual Report is dedicated to our friend and colleague Retta Ward, the New Mexico Secretary of

the Department of Health from 2013 to 2016. A dedicated advocate for public health, Secretary Ward chaired

the OMI Board as a passionate and engaged voice for the people of New Mexico, a tenure sadly cut short by her

untimely death on March 3, 2016. A native New Mexican, Secretary Ward earned a bachelor‟s degree in health

education from the University of New Mexico and a Master‟s of Public Health from the University of Arizona.

After years of success in the corporate world, Secretary Ward focused her considerable energy on educating

students in New Mexico and Arizona in science and health, returning to her love of advocating better health for

all. She returned to New Mexico in 2011 to serve as the Secretary of Aging and Long Term Services, building

successful initiatives that led to her appointment as Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Health, the

largest government agency in the state. As Secretary, she worked tirelessly to improve the health of all New

Mexicans, becoming well-known as a kind and compassionate advocate for public health in a state often

challenged by scant resources. We had the privilege of having her chair the board overseeing OMI‟s operations,

and greatly benefited from her insight, expertise and diplomacy. She was a staunch advocate for our agency and

the role we play in supporting public health, public safety and the criminal justice system. We are most grateful

to have had the honor of working with her, and dedicate this report to her memory. Thank you, Secretary Ward.


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Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI)

2015 Annual Report

Table of Contents

Introduction .............................................................................................................. 8

Preparation of the Annual Report ....................................................................................................8

Overview – Office of the Medical Investigator – 2015 ......................................... 8

Reportable Deaths ............................................................................................................................9

Statutory Duty ................................................................................................................................10

Program Summary and Highlights for 2015 ..................................................................................11

Investigative Activity ......................................................................................................................11

Examination Types…………………...…… .…………………………………………………….11

Identification…………………………………………………… .……………………………….12

Unclaimed Bodies……………………………………………… .…………………………….…12

Training and Education ..................................................................................................................12

Forensic Pathology Fellowship Program ......................................................................................12

Certification Training ....................................................................................................................12

Death Investigation Training .........................................................................................................13

Law Enforcement Education ..........................................................................................................13

Public Education ............................................................................................................................13

OMI website ...................................................................................................................................13

Center for Forensic Imaging………………………………..……………………………………13

Grief Services Program ..................................................................................................................13

Donor Services Program ................................................................................................................13

Figure 1 - Organizational Chart – Office of the Medical Investigator ..........................................14

Total Cases .............................................................................................................. 15

Figure 2 – Total Cases – 2006-2015 ..............................................................................................15

Figure 3 – Total Cases by Month - 2015 .......................................................................................16

Figure 4 – Total Cases by Day – 2015 ...........................................................................................16

Figure 5 – Total Cases by Race/Ethnicity – 2015 ..........................................................................17

Figure 6 – Total Cases by Age and Gender - 2015 ........................................................................17

Table 1 – Total Cases – Autopsy Status – 2015 ............................................................................18

Table 2 – Total Cases – Case Distribution – 2015.........................................................................18

Figure 7 – Total Cases by Exam Type – 2015…………………………………………….……..19

Cause and Manner of Death ................................................................................ 20

Figure 8 – Total Cases – Manner of Death – 2015 ........................................................................20


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Cause and Manner of Death – Overview .......................................................................................20

Table 3 – Total Cases – Manner of Death by Gender – 2015........................................................21

Table 4 – Total Cases – Manner of Death by Race/Ethnicity – 2015............................................21

Table 5 – Total Cases – Manner of Death by Age and Gender – 2015 .........................................22

Figure 9 – Deaths by County of Pronouncement – 2015 ...............................................................23

Overview – Manner of Death – Natural Deaths ................................................ 24

Figure 10 – Natural Deaths – 2006 - 2015 .....................................................................................24

Natural Deaths – Overview ............................................................................................................24

Figure 11 – Natural Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015 ..................................................................25

Figure 12 – Natural Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015 ................................................................25

Overview – Manner of Death – Accidental Deaths ............................................ 26

Figure 13 – Accidental Deaths – 2006 - 2015 ...............................................................................26

Accidental Deaths – Overview ......................................................................................................26

Figure 14 – Accidental Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015 .............................................................27

Figure 15 – Accidental Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015 ..........................................................27

Table 6 – Accidental Deaths – Cause – 2015 ................................................................................28

Table 7 – Accidental Deaths – County of Pronouncement - 2006 – 2015 ....................................29

Overview – Manner of Death – Suicide Deaths ................................................. 30

Figure 16 – Suicide Deaths – 2006 – 2015 ....................................................................................30

Suicide Deaths – Overview ............................................................................................................30

Figure 17 – Suicide Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015 .................................................................31

Figure 18 – Suicide Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015 ...............................................................31

Figure 19 – Suicide Deaths by Month – 2015 ...............................................................................32

Figure 20 – Suicide Deaths by Day of the Week – 2015 ...............................................................32

Table 8 – Suicide Deaths – Cause – 2015 ......................................................................................33

Table 9 – Suicide Deaths by County of Pronouncement – 2006 - 2015 ........................................34

Overview – Manner of Death – Homicide Deaths ............................................. 35

Figure 21 – Homicide Deaths – 2006 – 2015 ...............................................................................35

Homicide Deaths – Overview ........................................................................................................35

Figure 22 – Homicide Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015 ..............................................................36

Figure 23 – Homicide Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015 ...........................................................36

Table 10 – Homicide Deaths – Cause – 2015 ................................................................................37

Table 11 – Homicide Deaths – County of Pronouncement – 2006 - 2015 ....................................38

Overview – Manner of Death – Undetermined Deaths ..................................... 39

Figure 24 – Undetermined Deaths – 2006 – 2015 ........................................................................39

Undetermined Deaths – Overview .................................................................................................39

Figure 25 – Undetermined Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015 .......................................................40

Figure 26 – Undetermined Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015 .....................................................40


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Deaths of Children (19 Years of Age and Younger) ...................................................... 41

Figure 27 – Children Deaths – 2006 – 2015 ..................................................................................41

Figure 28 – Children – Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015 .............................................................41

Figure 29 – Children – Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015 ...........................................................42

Figure 30 – Children – Total Cases – Manner of Death – 2015 ...................................................42

Overview – Children – Manner of Death – Natural Deaths ………………..43

Figure 31 – Children – Natural Deaths – 2006 – 2015 .................................................................43

Figure 32 – Children – Natural Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015 ...............................................43

Figure 33 – Children – Natural Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015 ..............................................44

Overview – Children – Manner of Death – Accidental Deaths ........................ 45

Figure 34 – Children – Accidental Deaths – 2006 – 2015 ............................................................45

Figure 35 – Children – Accidental Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015 ...........................................45

Figure 36 – Children – Accidental Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015 ........................................46

Table 12 – Children – Accidental Deaths – Cause - 2015 .............................................................46

Overview – Children – Manner of Death – Suicide Deaths .............................. 47

Figure 37 – Children – Suicide Deaths – 2006 – 2015 ..................................................................47

Figure 38 – Children – Suicide Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015 ................................................47

Figure 39 – Children – Suicide Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015 ..............................................48

Figure 40 – Children – Suicide Deaths by Month – 2015 .............................................................48

Figure 41 – Children – Suicide Deaths by Day of the Week – 2015 ............................................49

Table 13 – Children – Suicide Deaths – Cause – 2015 ..................................................................49

Overview – Children – Manner of Death – Homicide Deaths .......................... 50

Figure 42 – Children – Homicide Deaths – 2006 – 2015 .............................................................50

Figure 43 – Children – Homicide Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015 ...........................................50

Figure 44 – Children – Homicide Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015 ..........................................51

Table 14 – Children – Homicide Deaths – Cause – 2015 ..............................................................51

Overview – Children – Manner of Death – Undetermined Deaths .................. 52

Figure 45 – Children – Undetermined Deaths – 2006 – 2015 .......................................................52

Figure 46 – Children – Undetermined Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015 .....................................52

Figure 47 – Children – Undetermined Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015 ...................................53

Table 15 – Children – Undetermined Deaths – Cause – 2015 .......................................................53

Deaths of Children in New Mexico – 2014 Summary ........................................ 54

Drug Caused Deaths .............................................................................................. 55

Figure 48 – Drug Caused Deaths – 2006 – 2015 ...........................................................................55

Drug Caused Deaths – Overview ...................................................................................................55

Figure 49 – Drug Caused Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015 ........................................................56

Figure 50 – Drug Caused Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015 ......................................................56


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Table 16 – Drug Caused Deaths – County of Pronouncement – 2015 .........................................57

Motor Vehicle-Associated Deaths………………………………………………58

Figure 51 – Motor Vehicle-Associated Deaths – 2006 – 2015 ......................................................58

Motor Vehicle-Associated Deaths – Overview .............................................................................58

Figure 52 – Motor Vehicle Accidents vs. Non-Motor Vehicle Accidents -2015 ..........................59

Figure 53 – Motor Vehicle-Associated Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015 ....................................59

Figure 54 – Motor Vehicle-Associated Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015 .................................60

Figure 55 – Motor Vehicle-Associated Deaths by Month – 2015 .................................................60

Figure 56 – Motor Vehicle-Associated Deaths by Day of the Week – 2015 ................................61

Table 17 – Motor Vehicle-Associated Deaths by County of Pronouncement – 2015 ...................62

Glossary ................................................................................................................... 63


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Introduction The Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI) investigates any death occurring in the State of New Mexico that

is sudden, violent, untimely, unexpected or where a person is found dead and the cause of death is unknown.

OMI performed services for a total of 6,698 deaths in 2015. A detailed breakout of the case distribution can be

found in this report.

This report is presented in two sections. The first section of the report summarizes the activity of the OMI. The

second presents data routinely collected by the OMI in a manner that answers questions related to mortality and

public health from a medical examiner‟s perspective. The tables and figures included in the report are designed

to be self-explanatory, and we hope you find them easy to read and understand. Definitions can be found in the

Glossary and may provide assistance with the terminology encountered in the report. Readers with special

interests, needs, or whose questions are not answered by this report may contact the OMI. Additionally, we

encourage interested researchers to contact the New Mexico Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics

(BVRHS) for complete mortality statistics.

Comments or suggestions concerning the content, format or clarity of the report are always welcome.

Preparation of the Annual Report The OMI data from which this report was compiled are maintained on a web-based data management system located

at the New Mexico Scientific Laboratories in Albuquerque. OMI faculty Sarah Lathrop, DVM, Ph.D. and OMI

Research Coordinator Valerie Poland, using Microsoft Office 2010 Professional and Statistical Analysis Software

(SAS) 9.2, prepared this report. UNM Health Sciences Center – Digital Printing and Document Services printed and

bound the final distribution copies. Electronic copies of this report may be downloaded in .PDF format from the

OMI website: http://omi.unm.edu.

Overview – Office of the Medical Investigator – 2015 The Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI) was created by the New Mexico State Legislature in 1972 and

became operational in 1973. Replacing the county coroner system, the OMI was tasked1

with investigating all

reportable deaths occurring in New Mexico, to subsequently determine the cause and manner of death in such

cases, and to provide formal death certification.

1 NMSA Statute 24-11-1, et seq., and 7-NMAC 3.2.8


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Reportable Deaths Those deaths to be reported to the OMI include all deaths occurring in New Mexico as outlined below,

regardless of where or when the initial injuring event occurred.

Any death that occurs suddenly and unexpectedly, that is, when the person has not been under

medical care for significant heart, lung or other disease.

Any death suspected to be due to violence, i.e., suicidal, accidental or homicidal injury, regardless

of when or where the injury occurred.

Any death suspected to be due to alcohol intoxication or the result of exposure to toxic agents.

Any death of a resident housed in a county or state institution, regardless of where death occurs.

This refers to any ward of the state or individual placed in such a facility by legal authorization.

Any death of a person in the custody of law enforcement officers.

Any death of a person in a nursing home or other private institution without recent medical

attendance.

Any death that occurs unexpectedly during, in association with, or as a result of diagnostic,

therapeutic, surgical or anesthetic procedures.

Any death alleged to have been caused by an act of malpractice.

Any death suspected to be involved with the decedent‟s occupation.

Any death unattended by a physician.

Any death due to neglect.

Any stillbirth of 20 or more weeks‟ gestation unattended by a physician.

Any maternal death to include death of a pregnant woman regardless of the length of the pregnancy,

and up to six weeks post-delivery, even where the cause of death is unrelated to the pregnancy.

Any death of an infant or child where the medical history has not established some pre-existing

medical condition.

Any death, which is possibly, directly or indirectly, attributable to environmental exposure, not

otherwise specified.

Any death suspected to be due to infectious or contagious disease wherein the diagnosis and extent

of disease at the time of death are undetermined.

Any death occurring under suspicious circumstances.

Any death in which there is doubt as to whether or not it is a medical investigator‟s case should be

reported.


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Statutory Duty The OMI Policy Manual, derived from statute, requires the OMI to perform the following duties in all cases of

reportable deaths:

Receive all reports of sudden, unexpected or unexplained deaths.

Respond to all sudden, unexpected or unexplained deaths.

In the absence of a physician, pronounce death.

Take custody of the body and all articles on or near the body.

Maintain the chain of custody of the body and all articles obtained there from.

Conduct an investigation leading to the determination of the cause and manner of death.

Obtain toxicology samples from the body when indicated, and arrange for necessary tests upon

those samples that will aid in the determination of cause and manner of death; maintain the proper

chain of custody and evidence on those samples; store those samples for an appropriate period of

time.

Certify the cause and manner of death and forward written certification to designated agencies.

Properly dispose of human remains through release to family or designated and authorized entities.

Provide accurate identification of all human remains when possible.

Cooperate with authorized agencies having involvement with death investigation.

Provide professional, objective testimony in state and local courts of law.

Define procedures that establish fees for services and material provided by the OMI.

Define procedures to reimburse all parties providing services to the OMI.

Establish and maintain a disaster plan outlining the role of OMI staff.

Maintain records of each official death investigation and provide reports to official agencies.

The above duties are exclusive of deaths that occur on tribal or federal land. The OMI provides consulting

services for requesting agencies such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Federal Bureau of Investigations

(FBI), Tribal Law Enforcement, military law enforcement, or neighboring state jurisdictions.

The OMI is designated as a special program within the Department of Pathology at the University of New

Mexico School of Medicine. A Board of Medical Investigations comprised of the Dean of the UNM School of

Medicine, the Chief of the New Mexico State Police, the Secretary of the Department of Health, the Chairman

of the New Mexico Thanatopractice and the Cabinet Secretary for Indian Affairs was established to oversee and

develop policy. The Board appoints the Chief Medical Investigator, a physician licensed in New Mexico,

trained in Pathology and Forensic Medicine, who has responsibility for operations.

The program operates out of the Central Office located in the UNM Health Sciences Center in Albuquerque,

New Mexico. The Central Office directs all investigative activities statewide. Specially trained and certified

Field Deputy Medical Investigators (FDMI) conduct field investigations. Every county in New Mexico has

FDMIs who conduct investigations at the scene of death to collect information used to determine jurisdiction,

possible cause and manner of death, and in the absence of a physician provide the pronouncement of death. The

FDMIs contact the Central Office and present the results of each investigation to Central Office Deputy Medical

Investigators who work with on-call Medical Investigators (forensic pathologists) to make the ultimate

decisions regarding jurisdiction and the need for further medicolegal investigation. All autopsy services are

conducted in the Central Office and are performed by forensic pathologists with the assistance of morphology

technicians. The Scientific Laboratory Division (SLD) provides some toxicology services, with other


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commercial laboratories providing specialized testing. All documentation is archived by the Central Office and

is available as provided for by public record statutes and regulations.

Such a strongly defined and professionally staffed system provides investigative agencies, the medical

community and the citizens of New Mexico with standardized death investigation protocols and a

central repository for the information compiled during those medicolegal investigations. The centralization

of these services has proven valuable in many areas of public concern including:

Criminal investigations such as homicide or child abuse

Protection of public health from environmental hazards and the spread of infectious disease

Surveillance and reporting of deaths that may represent bioterrorist activities

Medical and statistical research contributing to positive preventive measures (such as seat belt laws)

Expert testimony in court cases

Proper certification of death

Services to families of the deceased persons (Grief Services Program)

Program Summary and Highlights for 2015 Investigative Activity In 2015, New Mexico had 6,698 deaths that met the criteria to become a reportable death. The OMI provided

investigative services for each of these 6,698 deaths. OMI‟s Deputy Medical Investigators conducted 5,848

scene investigations in 2015, to include one exhumation. Following these investigations, OMI retained

jurisdiction of 3,306 deaths and relinquished jurisdiction of 2,571 deaths to private physicians. An additional

821 deaths were investigated as consultations, resulting in a total caseload of 6,698 medicolegal investigations.

OMI ordered the transportation of 3,344 decedents who died in 2015. A granular examination of the case

distribution is presented in the Total Cases section beginning on page 15.

Examination Types Of the 6,698 reportable deaths in 2015, OMI performed 1,773 full autopsies, 62 partial autopsies, 644

pathologist externals, 578 field externals, 134 investigator externals, and 3,507 decedents did not receive a

physical examination of any type. As a department of the UNM Health Sciences Center, OMI performs

autopsies for the hospital as a consultant; however, OMI does occasionally take jurisdiction over some of those

cases. In 2015, OMI took jurisdiction over 251 cases. Of those cases, 103 received a full or partial autopsy, 83

received an external examination, and 65 cases only needed their records reviewed in order to have a proper

cause and manner of death assigned. A granular examination of the examination types is presented in the Total

Cases section beginning on page 15.


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Identification Each year OMI receives hundreds of cases where remains are initially unidentified. 99% of these cases are

successfully identified through OMI‟s investigative efforts. Our staff identifies these cases through fingerprint

analysis, postmortem forensic dental examinations, DNA analysis, and x-ray and CT comparisons. The

investigative staff dedicates many hours to reviewing “cold cases” and are able to identify many cases with the

advancement of DNA technology and by resubmitting fingerprints to the FBI that were originally unmatched. In

2015, the investigative staff identified all but three decedents.

Unclaimed Bodies OMI makes every effort to identify and contact the next of kin for each decedent. Once identified, OMI helps

ensure that the decedent‟s body is returned to the family according to their wishes. However, in some cases,

OMI is unable to contact the next of kin or the next of kin is unable to claim the body. In 2015, there were 88

unclaimed bodies by the end of the year.

Training and Education At the OMI, the activity of training and education is an integral part of day-to-day operations. The OMI is

designated as a special program within the Department of Pathology at the University of New Mexico School of

Medicine. The forensic pathologists are faculty members within the School of Medicine and are expected to

participate in training of medical students, residents and fellows, as well as conduct research activity to further

advance the science of forensic medicine.

Forensic Pathology Fellowship Program The OMI Forensic Pathology Fellowship Program is considered one of the best in the country. The fellowship

is a one-year, in-depth training program in the subspecialty of forensic pathology. Applicants must have

completed an accredited pathology residency program. Four positions for this competitive program are

available each year and are generally filled two years in advance.

Certification Training All OMI Central Office deputy medical investigators are required to become certified by the American Board of

Medicolegal Death Investigators to perform a death investigation. Additionally, the OMI provides in-house

training for the deputy medical investigators throughout New Mexico and in the past year, twenty three

individuals successfully completed the training and received certification as new Field Investigators.

Approximately one hundred experienced Field Investigators traveled to the central office in order to receive

training on proper field external examinations. Upon request, OMI will provide the certification training to

other medical investigators, coroners and law enforcement agencies for adaptation to the needs of their local

systems. (i.e., Native American police officers).


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Death Investigation Training Death Investigation Training was conducted by the OMI as two training sessions in Albuquerque, in March and

October. Forty-three representatives from the medical examiner, law enforcement and health care professions

from throughout the nation participated in the training with a curriculum designed to present the most current

facets of death investigations. Participants were from Washington, Colorado, and of course, New Mexico. New

Mexico personnel included representatives from the various law enforcement agencies, emergency medical

services (EMS), and hospitals from around the state.

Law Enforcement Education Death investigation training is provided at the New Mexico State Police Academy, the New Mexico Law

Enforcement Academy, APD Citizen‟s Police Academy, and the Albuquerque Police Academy. In addition,

specialized training is provided to individual police departments at their request.

Public Education OMI Staff conducts in-service training throughout the state for a wide variety of agencies. Examples of

agencies include the New Mexico Department of Health, funeral homes, hospitals, correction facilities, the

EMS training site, UNM, CNM, high schools, civic organizations, state search and rescue groups, and tribal

authorities.

OMI website The OMI website at http://omi.unm.edu provides instant access to information concerning OMI, staff, operating

procedures, services offered, reports, and record requests.

Center for Forensic Imaging The Center for Forensic Imaging (CFI) is located within OMI. The CFI is currently the only forensic center in

the United States with in-house computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) facilities,

which support forensic research and education, and the clinical service of the OMI.

Grief Services Program The Grief Services Program (GSP) was established in 1975. Initially, the program provided crisis intervention

and education to families whose child died as a result of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The program

has continually expanded its mission and now provides its services to all New Mexico families following the

sudden and unexpected death of a family member, emphasizing service to victims of crime. These services

include: crisis intervention, psychotherapy, education, consultations, and referrals. Additionally, the GSP

provides grief education and training throughout New Mexico for agencies such as law enforcement, emergency

responders, nurses, mental health providers, teachers and other groups who request such training.

Donor Services In 2015, OMI ensured that 100% of potential organ donors and their families were allowed to give the gift of life.

OMI works closely with Donor Services and Lion‟s Eye Bank to provide life-saving organs for transplantation, in

New Mexico and across the country. Our thanks go to the families whose loved ones became an organ or tissue

donor, providing an enhanced quality of life to hundreds of transplant recipients.

http://omi.unm.edu/


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2015 Organizational Chart Figure 1

Board of Medical Investigators

Kurt Nolte, MD Chief Medical Investigator

Director of the Center for Forensic Imaging

Yvonne Villalobos OMI Director of

Operations

Pathology Faculty

Sam Andrews, MD Michelle Aurelius, MD

Heather Jarrell, MD Hannah Kastenbaum, MD

Ian Paul, MD J. Keith Pinckard, MD, PhD

Lori Proe, DO Sophia Rodriguez, MD

Veena Singh, MD Ross Zumwalt, MD

Peter Loomis, DDS Forensic

Odontologist

Nancy Mance Grief

Counselor

Sarah Lathrop, DVM, PhD

Forensic Epidemiologist

Rebecca

Mora

Supervisor

Rebecca Romans Senior Operations

Manager Morphology Services

David Dryden Supervisor

Field Investigations

Amy Wyman Supervisor

Central Office Investigations

Aaron

Tegard

Accountant III

IT J and J

Technical Services

Financial

Services

Asset

Management

Bernalillo County University Hospital

Security

Hospice Home Care Training &

Review

Accessioning Lab Services Photography

Autopsy Support Purchasing

Medical Records

Karen Cline Parhamovich, DO Assistant Chief Medical Investigator

Vacant Forensic

Anthropologist

Supervisor Tech Services/OMI

Autopsy Morphology Staff

Center for Forensic Imaging

Gary Hatch, MD Assistant Director

Natalie Adolphi, PhD Research Director

Chandra Gerrard

Imaging Supervisor Lecturer III


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Total Cases The remainder of this report will present data routinely collected by the OMI in a manner that answers questions regarding mortality and public health. The tables and charts summarize data collected on every medicolegal investigation, including consultation cases that the OMI conducted for this reporting period. The data, a subset of total mortality figures, represent findings on cases that come to the attention of forensic pathology. Readers who need complete mortality figures are encouraged to contact the State Center for Health Statistics – Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, New Mexico Department of Health.

Figure 2 – Total Cases 2006 - 2015

5,031 5,154 5,205

5,120 5,299 5,327 5,306

5,673

6,472

6,698

4,000

4,500

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000


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Figure 3 – Total Cases by Month – 2015

Figure 4 – Total Cases by Day – 2015

611

476

552

516 526

575 564 566 555

564 571

622

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

901

1,108

996

942

908

951

892

800

850

900

950

1000

1050

1100

1150


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Figure 5 – Total Cases by Race/Ethnicity* – 2015

*Total (6,673) excludes 25 non-human remains. American Indian includes 10 Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander includes 3 Hispanic,

Black includes 4 Hispanic.

Figure 6 – Total Cases by Age and Gender* – 2015

*Total (6,673) excludes 25 non-human remains. 7 females with unknown age, 9 males with unknown age, 1 infant under one year

with an unknown gender, 20 with unknown gender and unknown age.

American

Indian

585

8.77% Asian/Pacific

Islander

46

0.69%

Black

133

1.99%

Unknown

54

0.81%

White Hispanic

1,894

28.4%

White non-

Hispanic

3,961

59.4%

66

15

14

6 24

44

10

5 1

58

25

9 32

4 41

0

469

43

5

10

3

88

13

13

18

46

12

8

33

1

37

1

549

816

734

644

40

3

50

0

200

400

600

800

1000

Female Male


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Table 1 – Total Cases – Autopsy Status* – 2015

Autopsy Accident Homicide JT Natural NA Other Pending Suicide UND Total

Yes 704 183 0 598 0 14 5 238 92 1,834

No 741 2 1,604 1,279 951 39 2 241 5 4,864

Total 1,445 185 1,604 1,877 951 53 7 479 97 6,698

*JT: Jurisdiction terminated, NA: Non-accept, Other includes non-human remains and ancient remains, UND: Undetermined manner

of death.

Table 2 – Total Cases – Case Distribution* – 2015

Jurisdiction Manner Autopsy Percent Autopsied Total

Yes No

Medical Investigator Accident 663 709 48.3% 1,372

Homicide 159 2 98.8% 161

Natural 469 713 39.7% 1,182

Other 9 20 31.0% 29

Pending 4 2 66.7% 6

Suicide 235 239 49.6% 474

Undetermined 77 5 93.9% 82

Subtotal 1,616 1,690 48.9% 3,306

Consultation Cases Accident 41 32 56.2% 73

Homicide 24 0 100% 24

Natural 129 566 18.6% 695

Other 5 3 62.5% 8

Pending 1 0 100% 1

Suicide 3 2 60.0% 5

Undetermined 15 0 100% 15

Subtotal 218 603 26.6% 821

Jurisdiction Terminated

0 1,608 0% 1,608

Non-Accept

0 963 0% 963

Reported Deaths

1,834 4,864 27.4% 6,698

*Other includes non-human remains and ancient remains. Jurisdiction terminated includes 4 cases with other manner. Non-accept

includes 12 cases with other manner.


Annual Report 2015

19

Figure 7 – Total Cases by Exam Type – 2015

No autopsy

3,508

52.4%

Pathologist

external

644

9.61%

Field external

578

8.63%

Partial autopsy

62

0.93%

Investigator

external

134

2.00%

Full autopsy

1,772

26.5%


Annual Report 2015

20

Cause and Manner of Death

Figure 8 – Total Cases – Manner* of Death – 2015

*JT: Jurisdiction Terminated, Other includes non-human remains and ancient remains

Cause and Manner of Death - Overview

In 2015, OMI investigated 6,698 deaths, representing approximately 38% of the estimated total deaths in New

Mexico in 2015. Of the deaths investigated by OMI in 2015:

The total number of deaths investigated represents a 3.49% increase from the 2014 total, and a 33.1% increase

since 2006.

The ratio of male to female deaths, when gender was clearly determined, was 1.72. Decedents classified as

White non-Hispanic represented 59.1% of the total, White Hispanic 28.3%, American Indian 8.73%, Black

1.99%, and Asian 0.69%. The racial-ethnic composition of New Mexico was listed in 2015 as: 38.4% non-

Hispanic white, 48% Hispanic, 10.5% American Indian, 2.1% African-American and 1.7% Asian. (Source:

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/35000.html)

While natural deaths contributed the largest portion of OMI deaths investigated (28.0%), most natural deaths

did not fall under the jurisdiction of the OMI. Multiple cases are called into OMI every year in order to verify if

OMI has jurisdiction over the case. The physicians then decide if OMI is statutorily obligated to investigate the

case and issue the death certificate. If they are not statutorily obligated, the case is considered as jurisdiction

terminated (23.9% of 2015 cases) or non-accept (14.2% of 2015 cases). Data presented regarding natural

deaths should not be interpreted as representative of all natural deaths in New Mexico.

Accident

1,445

21.6%

Homicide

185

2.76%

JT

1,604

23.9%

Natural

1,877

28.0%

Non-Accept

951

14.2%

Other

53

0.79%

Pending

7

0.10%

Suicide

479

7.15%

Undetermined

97

1.45%


Annual Report 2015

21

Table 3 – Total Cases – Manner* of Death by Gender – 2015

Gender Accident Homicide JT Natural NA Other Pending Suicide UND Total

Female 526 36 641 653 436 4 1 115 27 2,439

Male 919 149 963 1,224 514 5 5 364 70 4,213

Non-human 0 0 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 25

Unknown 0 0 0 0 1 19 1 0 0 21

Total 1,445 185 1,604 1,877 951 53 7 479 97 6,698

*JT: Jurisdiction terminated, NA: Non-accept, Other includes ancient remains, UND: undetermined manner

Table 4 – Total Cases – Manner of Death by Race/Ethnicity* – 2015

Race/Ethnicity ACC HOM JT NAT NA Other PEND SUI UND Total

American Indian 189 35 59 194 52 7 1 22 26 585

Asian/Pacific Islander 6 1 10 25 1 0 0 3 0 46

Black 21 6 37 44 15 0 0 3 7 133

Non-human 0 0 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 25

Unknown 1 0 4 6 25 14 1 1 2 54

White Hispanic 481 70 501 524 181 0 1 114 22 1,894

White non-Hispanic 747 73 993 1,084 677 7 4 336 40 3,961

Total 1,445 185 1,604 1,877 951 53 7 479 97 6,698

*ACC: Accident, HOM: Homicide, JT: Jurisdiction terminated, NAT: Natural, NA: Non-accept, Other includes ancient remains,

PEND: Pending cases, SUI: Suicide, UND: Undetermined manner

*American Indian includes 10 Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander includes 3 Hispanic, Black includes 4 Hispanic


Annual Report 2015

22

Table 5 – Total Cases – Manner of Death by Age and Gender – 2015

Age at Death

Gender Age ACC HOM JT NAT NA Other PEND SUI UND Total

Female <1 7 1 2 34 15 1 0 0 6 66

1-4 11 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 15

5-9 7 2 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 14

10-14 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 6

15-19 10 1 0 5 0 0 0 8 0 24

20-24 24 2 0 5 2 0 0 10 1 44

25-34 49 8 1 26 7 0 1 9 4 105

35-44 59 3 13 49 10 0 0 18 6 158

45-54 70 6 28 91 30 1 0 27 6 259

55-64 47 3 87 126 36 1 0 22 2 324

65-74 29 4 132 134 94 0 0 16 1 410

75-84 68 4 178 110 105 0 0 3 1 469

85-94 106 0 162 56 110 0 0 1 0 435

95+ 38 0 34 9 21 1 0 0 0 103

Unknown 0 0 2 0 5 0 0 0 0 7

Subtotals 526 36 641 653 436 4 1 115 27 2,439

Male <1 8 1 4 45 19 0 0 0 11 88

1-4 5 2 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 13

5-9 8 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 13

10-14 6 1 2 4 1 0 0 3 1 18

15-19 14 10 0 5 0 0 0 16 1 46

20-24 56 17 2 12 2 0 0 30 9 128

25-34 153 40 6 43 13 0 1 67 8 331

35-44 132 33 18 98 23 2 0 55 10 371

45-54 167 22 62 203 26 1 1 59 8 549

55-64 141 12 183 326 84 0 1 58 11 816

65-74 71 8 209 280 125 0 1 35 5 734

75-84 78 0 270 140 119 1 0 34 2 644

85-94 70 2 182 55 88 0 0 5 1 403

95+ 10 1 22 6 9 0 0 2 0 50

Unknown 0 0 0 0 5 0 1 0 3 9

Subtotals 919 149 963 1,224 514 5 5 364 70 4,213

Unknown <1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1

Unknown 0 0 0 0 0 19 1 0 0 20

Non-human 0 0 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 25

Subtotals 0 0 0 1 0 44 1 0 0 46

Total 1,445 185 1,604 1,878 950 53 7 479 97 6,698


Annual Report 2015

23

Figure 9 – Deaths by County of Pronouncement – 2015

All Manners of Death

*56 cases that OMI pronounced

occurred outside of New Mexico

Santa Fe 89

San Juan

265

Rio

Arriba

178

Los

Alamos

32

McKinley

126

Sandoval

291

Santa Fe

433

San Miguel

116

Cibola

81

Valencia

160

Torrance

64

Guadalupe

28

Quay

36

Curry

117

De Baca

7

Roosevelt

42

Lincoln

76

Socorro

42

Catron

19

Sierra

81

Grant

134

Luna

87

Hidalgo

27

Dona

Ana

457

Otero

194

Eddy

165

Bernalillo

2,919

Lea

139

Chaves

165

Mora

22

Colfax

41

Union

5

Harding

1

Taos

92

0 - 50

51 - 100

101 - 200

201+


Annual Report 2015

24

Overview – Manner of Death – Natural Deaths

Figure 10 – Natural Deaths – 2006 – 2015

Natural Deaths – Overview

Deaths classified as a “natural” manner of death, as compared to suicides, homicides, accidents and

undetermined manners of death, represent the largest number of deaths investigated by OMI (28.0% in 2015).

Starting in 2013, cases reported to but not accepted by OMI were no longer assigned a manner of death,

resulting in the lower numbers of natural deaths seen in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Most natural deaths that occur in

New Mexico do not fall under the jurisdiction of OMI and are therefore not represented in this report. An

excellent resource for all mortality statistics in the state is the publication “New Mexico Selected Health

Statistics Annual Report,” published by the State Center for Health Statistics at the Office of New Mexico Vital

Records & Health Statistics, Public Health Division, Department of Health, 1105 St. Francis Dr., PO Box

26110, Santa Fe, NM 87502-6110. The 2013 Annual Report is available online at:

http://nmhealth.org/data/view/vital/1132/

2,945 3,022 3,037

2,964 3,112

3,052 3,084

1,782 1,891 1,877

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

http://nmhealth.org/data/view/vital/1132/


Annual Report 2015

25

Figure 11 – Natural Deaths by Race/Ethnicity* – 2015

*American Indian includes 6 Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander includes 1 Hispanic, Black includes 1 Hispanic

Figure 12 – Natural Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015

American Indian

194

10.3%

Asian/Pacific

Islander

25

1.33%

Black

44

2.34%

Unknown

6

0.32%

White Hispanic

524

27.9%

White non-

Hispanic

1,084

57.8%

34

1 4

3 5 5

26

49

91

12

6

13

4

11

0

56

9

45

3

4

4

5 12

43

98

20

3

326

280

14

0

55

6

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Female Male


Annual Report 2015

26

Overview – Manner of Death – Accidental Deaths

Figure 13 – Accidental Deaths – 2006 – 2015

Accidental Deaths – Overview

Accidental deaths accounted for 21.6% of the deaths investigated by OMI in 2015, second only to natural

deaths as a manner of death. The highest number of accidental deaths was in males 45-54 years of age.

1,416 1,406

1,430

1,390

1,352

1,521

1,458

1,399

1,572

1,445

1,250

1,300

1,350

1,400

1,450

1,500

1,550

1,600


Annual Report 2015

27

Figure 14 – Accidental Deaths by Race/Ethnicity* – 2015

*American Indian includes 2 Hispanic

Figure 15 – Accidental Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015

American Indian

189

13.1%

Asian/Pacific

Islander

6

0.42%

Black

21

1.45%

Unknown

1

0.07%

White Hispanic

481

33.3%

White non-

Hispanic

747

51.7%

7

11

7

1 10

24

49

59 7

0

47

29

68

10

6

38

8

5 8

6 1

4

56

153

132

167

141

71 78

70

10

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

200

Female Male


Annual Report 2015

28

Table 6 – Accidental Deaths – Cause – 2015

Cause of Death Total Cases

Multiple injuries 684

Substance intoxication 392

Natural disease 49

Pneumonia/bronchitis 39

Exposure 36

Cardiac arrhythmia 35

Ethanol (alcohol) intoxication 34

Sepsis 25

Asphyxia 24

Drowning 21

Thermal injuries (burns) 20

Ethanolism 14

Head and neck injuries 11

Choking 9

Emboli 9

Hypertension 7

Carbon monoxide intoxication 5

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 5

Epilepsy 4

Obesity 3

Cerebrovascular 3

Electrocution 2

Hanging 2

Alzheimer‟s 2

Carcinoma 2

Diabetes 2

Gunshot wound 1

Stab wound 1

Chronic drug abuse 1

Prematurity 1

Hepatic failure 1

Asthma 1


Annual Report 2015

29

Table 7 – Accidental Deaths – County of Pronouncement – 2006 – 2015

County of Pronouncement 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Bernalillo 552 512 572 549 532 573 523 514 557 606

Catron 1 3 3 0 1 5 5 8 4 2

Chaves 47 31 48 36 49 56 35 35 37 32

Cibola 12 24 20 18 19 20 12 29 16 19

Colfax 9 12 14 8 9 10 5 17 16 12

Curry 20 27 17 21 24 30 23 22 24 22

De Baca 1 3 2 2 0 3 2 2 2 3

Dona Ana 83 95 75 112 90 96 106 80 110 110

Eddy 39 37 40 34 43 38 41 38 51 43

Grant 18 19 29 19 12 18 21 20 29 16

Guadalupe 14 14 17 8 9 8 6 10 14 12

Harding 0 1 0 1 0 2 1 1 1 0

Hidalgo 7 11 5 4 6 8 5 3 13 7

Lea 40 37 35 18 32 33 34 31 56 34

Lincoln 16 21 5 18 11 15 14 10 18 9

Los Alamos 5 6 5 10 9 8 5 5 7 2

Luna 27 23 14 15 13 12 10 15 11 12

McKinley 67 60 51 58 41 43 53 51 73 49

Mora 3 5 4 1 4 6 8 4 4 3

Otero 33 20 25 33 37 33 41 32 42 33

Quay 16 11 15 4 18 7 11 8 16 12

Rio Arriba 42 52 41 43 35 55 55 52 57 50

Roosevelt 8 11 9 5 9 10 9 5 9 9

San Juan 82 99 79 67 68 92 88 86 96 75

San Miguel 22 24 31 23 25 30 30 23 15 14

Sandoval 33 30 47 58 48 59 62 64 68 49

Santa Fe 97 92 108 94 89 122 127 109 119 110

Sierra 6 11 13 20 19 22 17 19 11 15

Socorro 12 17 17 22 7 13 9 11 18 10

Taos 22 33 26 29 29 22 28 24 23 23

Torrance 17 15 14 14 8 16 13 20 13 12

Union 7 4 3 5 4 4 4 4 3 0

Valencia 37 34 27 24 29 15 29 25 33 19

Out of State 21 12 19 17 23 37 26 22 6 21

Totals 1,416 1,406 1,430 1,390 1,352 1,521 1,458 1,399 1,572 1,445


Annual Report 2015

30

Overview – Manner of Death – Suicide Deaths

Figure 16 – Suicide Deaths – 2006 – 2015

Suicide Deaths – Overview

New Mexico‟s suicide rate is consistently higher than the national average, comprising 2.6% of all deaths in

New Mexico, compared to 1.6% of all deaths in the U.S. The rate in 2014 (most recent data available) was 21.0

per 100,000 people, compared to a rate of 13 per 100,000 people in the rest of the U.S. (2014 New Mexico

Selected Health Statistics, State Center for Health Statistics, Department of Health).

Deaths from suicide in 2015 occurred most frequently among White non-Hispanics (70.1%) and males (75.9%).

More men between the ages of 25 and 34 years (13.9% of all suicides) committed suicide than other age group

by gender. More people committed suicide on Wednesday (17.1%) than any other day of the week. More

suicides occurred in August than any other month (10.6%). The fewest occurred in December (6.47%). The

total number of suicides increased from 431 in 2014 to 479 in 2015 (11.1% increase).

361

391 397

379

412 417 419

442 431

479

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550


Annual Report 2015

31

Figure 17 – Suicide Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015

Figure 18 – Suicide Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015

American Indian

22

4.59%

Asian/Pacific

Islander

3

0.63%

Black

3

0.63%

Unknown

1

0.21%

White Hispanic

114

23.8%

White non-

Hispanic

336

70.1%

0

0

0 1

8 10

9

18

27

22

16

3

1

0

0

0

0 3

16

30

67

55

59

58

35

34

5

2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Female Male


Annual Report 2015

32

Figure 19 – Suicide Deaths by Month – 2015

Figure 20 – Suicide Deaths by Day of the Week – 2015

36

41 41

36

33

48

43

51

45

39

35

31

20

30

40

50

60

60 63

77 82

55

77

65

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90


Annual Report 2015

33

Table 8 – Suicide Deaths – Cause – 2015


Gunshot wound 263

Hanging 94



Natural disease 14

Stab wound 6

Asphyxia 5

Carbon monoxide intoxication 3

Thermal injuries 2

Exposure 1


Annual Report 2015

34

Table 9 – Suicide Deaths by County of Pronouncement – 2006 – 2015


Bernalillo 118 131 134 142 127 137 146 147 147 160

Catron 1 3 2 2 2 1 8 2 1 2

Chaves 10 11 10 11 9 12 17 18 14 13

Cibola 4 7 6 9 4 5 6 9 5 10

Colfax 4 5 2 3 3 2 5 0 5 3

Curry 6 3 3 4 6 4 6 6 5 13

De Baca 1 1 0 0 2 0 1 2 0 1

Dona Ana 23 27 34 30 38 35 34 24 30 43

Eddy 10 10 9 11 12 9 14 7 13 15

Grant 9 5 12 9 14 7 9 9 11 6

Guadalupe 2 1 4 0 2 1 3 1 2 1

Harding 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Hidalgo 0 3 3 2 0 2 0 1 0 5

Lea 12 8 7 5 14 8 9 10 11 14

Lincoln 2 7 5 3 2 3 6 3 11 5

Los Alamos 4 4 2 1 1 3 0 2 1 1

Luna 6 4 5 2 6 3 4 6 3 3

McKinley 16 9 7 12 5 16 10 9 7 3

Mora 2 1 1 2 3 2 1 2 1 2

Otero 13 16 16 15 20 20 11 21 10 13

Quay 2 2 2 1 5 0 2 3 1 3

Rio Arriba 4 15 9 9 6 10 12 13 7 18

Roosevelt 4 1 4 0 1 3 1 2 2 4

San Juan 25 19 24 23 36 21 22 18 27 33

San Miguel 8 6 7 3 7 6 5 7 8 7

Sandoval 16 20 20 18 25 30 21 26 26 27

Santa Fe 23 25 38 24 23 31 31 38 34 34

Sierra 5 2 2 4 2 7 2 6 6 4

Socorro 2 7 1 5 6 2 4 4 6 7

Taos 12 12 6 8 6 13 13 13 15 9

Torrance 6 6 4 6 9 3 3 6 4 7

Union 1 1 0 2 2 2 0 0 2 0

Valencia 7 16 15 9 8 14 8 20 15 13

Out of State 3 2 3 3 6 5 5 7 1 0

Total 361 390 397 379 412 417 419 442 431 479


Annual Report 2015

35

Overview – Manner of Death – Homicide Deaths

Figure 21 – Homicide Deaths – 2006 – 2015

Homicide Deaths – Overview

Homicides increased by 16.4% from 2014 to 2015. Homicide victims were most frequently male (80.5%) and

White non-Hispanic (39.5%). As with suicide rates, homicide rates in New Mexico tend to be higher than the

national rate, 7.0 per 100,000 in 2014 compared to a national rate of 4.5 per 100,000 (2014 New Mexico

Selected Health Statistics, State Center for Health Statistics, Department of Health).

157

192

171

207 198

167 160

169 159

185

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

240


Annual Report 2015

36

Figure 22 – Homicide Deaths by Race/Ethnicity* – 2015

*American Indian includes 1 Hispanic, Black includes 1 Hispanic

Figure 23 – Homicide Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015

American

Indian

35

18.9%

Asian/Pacific

Islander

1

0.54%

Black

6

3.24%

White Hispanic

70

37.8%

White non-

Hispanic

73

39.5%

1 2

2

0 1 2

8

3

6

3 4

4

0

0 1 2

0 1

10

17

40

33

22

12

8

0 2

1

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Female Male


Annual Report 2015

37

Table 10 – Homicide Deaths – Cause – 2015


Gunshot wound 103


Stab wound 30

Natural disease 8

Asphyxia 4

Pneumonia (bronchitis) 4


Homicide by unspecified means 1

Cardiac arrhythmia 1

Sepsis 1


Annual Report 2015

38

Table 11 – Homicide Deaths – County of Pronouncement – 2006 – 2015


Bernalillo 62 70 61 81 74 50 56 55 55 73

Catron 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Chaves 5 9 8 10 6 6 10 13 10 11

Cibola 2 1 0 3 5 3 4 1 4 3

Colfax 2 2 0 1 1 0 1 3 1 2

Curry 3 2 3 4 2 3 3 3 2 3

De Baca 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

Dona Ana 6 10 9 9 13 6 7 7 10 9

Eddy 0 3 2 6 3 3 7 4 3 3

Grant 2 3 2 1 1 4 1 3 1 3

Guadalupe 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0

Harding 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Hidalgo 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0

Lea 6 6 4 8 10 10 4 7 5 8

Lincoln 1 1 1 1 0 3 1 1 0 2

Los Alamos 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Luna 2 4 4 2 1 1 0 2 0 3

McKinley 6 8 7 10 8 9 11 10 11 7

Mora 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2

Otero 3 3 4 5 4 3 0 5 2 3

Quay 0 4 1 0 1 4 3 0 0 0

Rio Arriba 2 5 0 4 8 8 9 5 1 4

Roosevelt 0 1 5 1 1 1 0 0 1 0

San Juan 15 20 0 10 11 11 11 14 13 10

San Miguel 1 6 11 5 2 4 0 3 2 3

Sandoval 4 3 2 11 3 5 3 1 7 5

Santa Fe 9 5 7 8 12 12 11 4 6 6

Sierra 1 1 10 0 1 0 1 0 1 3

Socorro 1 1 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 2

Taos 3 2 2 1 6 2 2 3 2 2

Torrance 1 2 1 0 2 0 0 1 4 3

Union 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Valencia 4 4 0 4 1 6 4 4 5 5

Out of State 15 13 9 18 20 12 10 18 11 10

Totals 156 191 156 207 198 167 160 169 159 185


Annual Report 2015

39

Overview – Manner of Death – Undetermined Deaths

Figure 24 – Undetermined Deaths – 2006 – 2015

Undetermined Deaths – Overview

All possible efforts are made to determine both a manner (accident, suicide, homicide, natural) and a cause of

death for all deaths investigated by OMI. In a very small percentage of cases (less than 1% most years) neither

the manner nor cause of death can be determined, even with a complete autopsy, scene investigation, and

laboratory testing. In other cases only skeletal or mummified remains were found, or a request for an autopsy

was withdrawn.

152 147

170

180 175

127

98

121

97 97

50

80

110

140

170

200


Annual Report 2015

40

Figure 25 – Undetermined Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015

Figure 26 – Undetermined Deaths by Age* and Gender – 2015

*3 males with unknown age

American Indian

26

26.8%

Black

7

7.22%

Unknown

2

2.06%

White non-

Hispanic

40

41.2%

White Hispanic

22

22.7%

6

0

0

0

0 1

4

6

6

2

1

1

0

11

0

0 1

1

9

8

10

8

11

5

2

1

0

4

8

12

16

Female Male


Annual Report 2015

41

Deaths of Children (19 years of age and younger)

Figure 27 – Children – Deaths – 2006 – 2015

Figure 28 – Children – Deaths by Race/Ethnicity* – 2015


332

348

313

342

324

290 294

271 273

304

200

250

300

350

400

American Indian

58

19.1%

Asian/Pacific

Islander

3

0.99%

Black

8

2.63%

Unknown

7

2.30%

White non-

Hispanic

135

44.4%

White Hispanic

93

30.6%


Annual Report 2015

42

Figure 29 – Children – Deaths by Age and Gender* – 2015

*Total includes one infant under one year with unknown gender, not included in this graph

Figure 30 – Children – Total Cases – Manner* of Death – 2015

*JT: Jurisdiction terminated, NA: Non-accept, Other refers to specialized consultations, UND: Undetermined manner

66

15 14

6

24

88

13 13

18

46

0

20

40

60

80

100

Female Male

77

20

13

108

37

2

28

19

0

20

40

60

80

100

120


Annual Report 2015

43

Overview – Children – Manner of Death – Natural Deaths

Figure 31 – Children – Natural Deaths – 2006 – 2015

Figure 32 – Children – Natural Deaths by Race/Ethnicity* – 2015


152 142

155 152 149

137 141

97 100 108

0

50

100

150

200

American

Indian

27

25.0%

Asian/Pacific

Islander

3

2.78%

Black

3

2.78%

Unknown

2

1.85%

White non-

Hispanic

45

41.7%

White Hispanic

28

25.9%


Annual Report 2015

44

Figure 33 – Children – Natural Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015

34

1 4 3

5

45

3 4 4 5

0

10

20

30

40

50

Female Male


Annual Report 2015

45

Overview – Children – Manner of Death – Accidental Deaths

Figure 34 – Children – Accidental Deaths – 2006 – 2015

Figure 35 – Children – Accidental Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015

100

109

75

104 98

80 79

72

78 77

50

70

90

110

130

American

Indian

13

16.9%

Black

1

1.30%

White non-

Hispanic

30

39.0%

White Hispanic

33

42.9%


Annual Report 2015

46

Figure 36 – Children – Accidental Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015

Table 12 – Children – Accidental Deaths – Cause – 2015



Asphyxia 15


Natural causes 4

Drowning 3

Ethanol (alcohol) intoxication 2


Hanging 2

Thermal injuries 1

Exposure 1

Prematurity 1

Sepsis 1

7

11

7

1

10

8

5

8

6

14

0

5

10

15

20

Female Male


Annual Report 2015

47

Overview – Children – Manner of Death – Suicide Deaths

Figure 37 – Children – Suicide Deaths – 2006 – 2015

Figure 38 – Children – Suicide Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015

35

32

36

26 26 26

30

25 26

28

20

25

30

35

40

American

Indian

4

14.3%

Black

1

3.57%

White Hispanic

5

17.9%

White non-

Hispanic

18

64.3%


Annual Report 2015

48

Figure 39 – Children – Suicide Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015

Figure 40 – Children – Suicide Deaths by Month – 2015

0 0 0 1

8

0 0 0

3

16

0

5

10

15

20

Female Male

2

1 1

5

1

5

2

6

1

2

1 1

0

2

4

6

8


Annual Report 2015

49

Figure 41 – Children – Suicide Deaths by Day of the Week – 2015

Table 13 – Children - Suicide Deaths – Cause – 2015


Gunshot wound 17

Hanging 7

Multiple injuries 2


Exposure 1

6

4

7

3

2

3 3

0

2

4

6

8


Annual Report 2015

50

Overview – Children – Manner of Death – Homicide Deaths

Figure 42 – Children – Homicide Deaths – 2006 – 2015

Figure 43 – Children – Homicide Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015

32 33

26

32

34

18 18

21

15

20

10

20

30

40

American Indian

2

10.0%

Black

1

5.00%

White Hispanic

9

45.0%

White non-

Hispanic

8

40.0%


Annual Report 2015

51

Figure 44 – Children – Homicide Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015

Table 14 – Children – Homicide Deaths – Cause – 2015


Gunshot wound 14

Multiple injuries 3

Stab wound 1


Asphyxia 1

1

2 2

0

1 1

2

0

1

10

0

4

8

12

Female Male


Annual Report 2015

52

Overview – Children – Manner of Death – Undetermined Deaths

Figure 45 – Children – Undetermined Deaths – 2006 – 2015

Figure 46 – Children – Undetermined Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015

10

31

21

28

37

29

15 16

13

19

5

15

25

35

45

American

Indian

3

15.8%

Black

2

10.5%

White Hispanic

7

36.8%

White non-

Hispanic

7

36.8%


Annual Report 2015

53

Figure 47 – Children – Undetermined Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015

Table 15 – Children - Undetermined Deaths – Cause – 2015


Undetermined 17

Gunshot wound 1

Hanging 1

6

0 0 0 0

11

0 0 1 1

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Female Male


Annual Report 2015

54

Deaths of Children in New Mexico – Summary

The 10-year summaries presented in this report for childhood deaths all include ages 19 and younger. The 304

deaths of people aged 19 and younger represented 4.54% of all deaths investigated by the OMI in 2015. Male

decedents comprised 58.6% of the total deaths in children. The most common manner of death among children

was natural, contributing 35.5% of the total. There were 28 suicides among children in 2015. Suicide deaths

were more common among young males (67.9%) than females (32.1%), and gunshot wounds were the most

common method of suicide in children. The total number of childhood homicides increased from 15 homicides

in 2014 to 20 homicides in 2015 (33.3% increase). Homicide deaths among children tended to be male (70.0%),

White Hispanic (45.0 %) and killed by a firearm (70.0%). The majority of childhood homicide victims (55.0%)

were between the ages of 15 and 19. Firearms played a role in 17 suicides (60.7% of total child suicides) and 14

homicides (70.0% of child homicides).

An excellent resource for additional information about the deaths of children in New Mexico, their

circumstances, risk factors, and opportunities for prevention is the Annual Report of the New Mexico Child

Fatality Review (NMCFR), published by the New Mexico Department of Health Public Health Division,

Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program. NMCFR consists of volunteers from many state and local

agencies organized into four panels: Suicide, Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID), Unintentional Injury,

and Child Abuse and Neglect. The experts on these panels review the circumstances of childhood deaths in

order to identify risk factors and develop prevention strategies, and their findings are presented in their annual

report.


Annual Report 2015

55

Drug Caused Deaths

Figure 48 – Drug Caused Deaths – 2006 – 2015

Drug Caused Deaths – Overview

Drug overdose deaths continue to be a problem in New Mexico. A wide variety of drugs, both illegal and

prescription, contributed to the 594 drug-caused deaths. Many decedents had more than one drug present at the

time of death. The most drug-caused deaths being seen in males ages 45-54 years (16.2%). The OMI

designation of „drug-caused deaths‟ includes both intentional (suicide, homicide) and unintentional (accidental)

drug overdoses.

Additional information regarding unintentional drug overdose deaths in New Mexico is available annually in

the newsletter New Mexico Epidemiology, published by the New Mexico Department of Health.

409

444

500

466 456

542

449

589

627

594

200

300

400

500

600

700


Annual Report 2015

56

Figure 49 – Drug Caused Deaths by Race/Ethnicity* – 2015

*American Indian includes 2 Hispanic, Black includes 1 Hispanic

Figure 50 – Drug Caused Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015

American

Indian

56

9.43%

Asian/Pacific

Islander

1

0.17%

Black

7

1.18%

White Hispanic

244

41.1%

White non-

Hispanic

286

48.1%

0

0

0

0 4

8

30

56 64

37

12

2

0

0 2

1

0

0 5

27

87

89 9

6

58

8

7

1

0

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Female Male


Annual Report 2015

57

Table 16 – Drug Caused Deaths – County of Pronouncement – 2015

County of Pronouncement Total Cases

Bernalillo 258

Catron 1

Chaves 13

Cibola 1

Colfax 2

Curry 9

De Baca 0

Dona Ana 42

Eddy 19

Grant 8

Guadalupe 2

Harding 0

Hidalgo 1

Lea 11

Lincoln 5

Los Alamos 2

Luna 3

McKinley 11

Mora 0

Otero 15

Quay 3

Rio Arriba 29

Roosevelt 2

San Juan 28

San Miguel 8

Sandoval 22

Santa Fe 64

Sierra 5

Socorro 4

Taos 12

Torrance 2

Union 0

Valencia 9

Out of State 3

Totals 594


Annual Report 2015

58

Motor Vehicle-Associated Deaths

Figure 51 – Motor Vehicle-Associated Deaths – 2006 - 2015

Motor Vehicle-Associated Deaths – Overview

In 2015, OMI investigated 330 motor-vehicle associated deaths, a 16.7% decrease from 2014, and 22.8% of all

accidental deaths investigated by OMI in 2015. Included in this classification are deaths of drivers and

passengers of cars, trucks and motorcycles, as well as deaths occurring when a motor vehicle struck a pedestrian

or a bicyclist. American Indian decedents were over-represented, with 23.0% of motor-vehicle accidental

deaths. Males ages 25-34 years had the highest number (15.2%) of motor vehicle-associated accidental deaths.

June saw the highest number of motor vehicle deaths (11.5%), while January and February each had the lowest

number (5.76%). More motor vehicle deaths occurred on a Tuesday (17.3%) than any other day of the week.

553

453

407 396

337 344

393

342

396

330

200

300

400

500

600


Annual Report 2015

59

Figure 52 – Motor Vehicle Accidents vs. Non-Motor Vehicle Accidents - 2015

Figure 53 – Motor Vehicle-Associated Deaths by Race/Ethnicity – 2015

No

1,115

77.2%

Yes

330

22.8%

American

Indian

76

23.0%

Asian/Pacific

Islander

3

0.91%

Black

10

3.03%

Unknown

1

0.30%

White Hispanic

116

35.2%

White non-

Hispanic

124

37.6%


Annual Report 2015

60

Figure 54 – Motor Vehicle-Associated Deaths by Age and Gender – 2015

Figure 55 – Motor Vehicle-Associated Deaths by Month – 2015

0

4 6

1

5

14

20

11

12

9

5

12

1

0

0 2

4

3 6

30

50

28

41

36

19

7

4

0

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Female Male

19 19

27

23

25

38

33

25

30 32

27

32

5

15

25

35

45


Annual Report 2015

61

Figure 56 – Motor Vehicle-Associated Deaths by Day of the Week – 2015

55 53

57

43

34

48

40

10

20

30

40

50

60

70


Annual Report 2015

62

Table 17 – Motor Vehicle-Associated Deaths by County of Pronouncement – 2015

County of Pronouncement Total Cases

Bernalillo 100

Catron 1

Chaves 11

Cibola 13

Colfax 5

Curry 4

De Baca 2

Dona Ana 15

Eddy 8

Grant 2

Guadalupe 8

Harding 0

Hidalgo 4

Lea 12

Lincoln 3

Los Alamos 0

Luna 5

McKinley 19

Mora 2

Otero 7

Quay 9

Rio Arriba 10

Roosevelt 5

San Juan 27

San Miguel 4

Sandoval 5

Santa Fe 14

Sierra 2

Socorro 5

Taos 3

Torrance 7

Union 0

Valencia 4

Out of State 14

Totals 330


Annual Report 2015

63

Glossary

Accident – The manner of death used when, in other than natural deaths, there is no evidence of intent.

Autopsy – A detailed postmortem external and internal examination of a body to determine cause of death. An

autopsy may be either „full‟, with complete dissection and examination of internal structures, or „partial‟,

dissecting only a select portion of the body, such as the brain or abdomen.

Cause of Death – The agent of effect that results in a physiological derangement or biochemical disturbance

that is incompatible with life. The results of postmortem examination, including autopsy and toxicological

findings, combined with information about the medical history of the decedent serves to establish the cause of

death. The cause of death can result from different circumstances and manner of death. For example, the same

cause of death, drowning, can result from the accidental immersion of a child in a swimming pool or from the

homicidal immersion of a child in a bathtub.

Children – Individuals 19 years of age or younger. (Normally this is 18 years of age or younger, but to keep

with industry standard age divisions, 19 year-olds are included in our tables.)

Circumstances of Death – The situation, setting, or condition present at the time of injury or death.

Consultation – Autopsies paid for by families, hospitals or investigating agencies, such as the Federal Bureau

of Investigations (FBI); these autopsies are not under OMI jurisdiction and are done by request and payment.

County of Pronouncement – The county where the decedent was pronounced dead.

Deputy Medical Investigator – An investigator, not necessarily a physician, appointed by the State Medical

Investigator to assist in the investigation of deaths in the jurisdiction of the OMI. There is at least one deputy

medical investigator in each county in New Mexico.

Exhumation – To remove a deceased body from a pre-existing grave site in order to examine the body and

assign a cause and manner of death or to identify the remains using current information and/or technology.

External Examination – A detailed postmortem external examination of a body, conducted when a full or

partial autopsy is determined to not be required.

Drug Caused Death – A death caused by a drug or combination of drugs. Deaths caused by ethanol, poisons

and volatile substances are excluded.

Ethanol – An alcohol, which is the principal intoxicant in liquor, beer and wine. A person with an alcohol

concentration in blood of 0.08 grams/100 milliliters (0.08 g/100mL) is legally intoxicated in New Mexico.

Ethanol Present – Deaths in which toxicological tests reveal a reportable level of ethanol (0.005% or greater)

at the time of death.

Homicide – The manner of death in which death results from the intentional harm of one person by another.


Annual Report 2015

64

Jurisdiction – The extent of the Office of the Medical Investigator‟s authority over deaths. The OMI authority

covers reportable deaths that occur in New Mexico, except for those occurring on federal reservations

(American Indian and military) and in hospitals. New Mexico Statute 24-11-5NMSA 1978 and descriptions in

the OMI policy manual define reportable deaths. The OMI may be invited to consult or investigate cases over

which it has no jurisdiction.

Jurisdiction Terminated – Jurisdiction terminated cases are reported to OMI, which is statutorily obligated to

review the cases. However, after review proves that there was no foul play and if the decedent‟s physician

agrees that the death was an expected natural death, the case is then assigned a cause and manner of death by

their physician. The OMI is still obligated to make sure the decedent‟s remains are properly cared for.

Field External Examination – An investigation and external examination conducted at the scene to determine

cause of death, with no autopsy conducted but under OMI jurisdiction.

Manner of Death – The general category of the condition, circumstances or event, which causes the death. The

categories are natural, accident, homicide, suicide and undetermined.

Natural – The manner of death used when solely a disease causes death. If death is hastened by an injury, the

manner of death is not considered natural.

Non-accept – Non-accept cases are decedents who have died under the care of a physician, but are reported into

the OMI to verify that there is no statutory obligation to investigate the case.

Office of the Medical Investigator – The state agency in New Mexico that is responsible for the investigation

of sudden, violent or untimely deaths. The Office of the Medical Investigator was created by legislation in 1973

to replace the county coroner system (see also, Deputy Medical Investigator).

Pending – The cause of death and manner of death are to be determined pending further investigation and/or

toxicological, histological and/or neuropathological testing at the time of publication.

State Medical Investigator – The head of the Office of the Medical Investigator. The State Medical

Investigator must be a licensed physician licensed in New Mexico and may appoint Assistant Medical

investigators, who must be physicians and Deputy Medical Investigators.

Undetermined – The manner of death for deaths in which there is insufficient information to assign another

manner.

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